1789 - 1871 Person Name: Charlotte Elliott (1789-1871) Meter: 8.4 Author of "My God, my Father, while I stray" in Manual for the chapel of Girard College Elliott, Charlotte, daughter of Charles Elliott, of Clapham and Brighton, and granddaughter of the Rev. H. Venn, of Huddersfield, was born March 18, 1789. The first 32 years of her life were spent mostly at Clapham. In 1823 she removed to Brighton, and died there Sept. 22, 1871. To her acquaintance with Dr. C. Malan, of Geneva, is attributed much of the deep spiritual-mindedness which is so prominent in her hymns. Though weak and feeble in body, she possessed a strong imagination, and a well-cultured and intellectual mind. Her love of poetry and music was great, and is reflected in her verse. Her hymns number about 150, a large percentage of which are in common use. The finest and most widely known of these are, "Just as I am” and "My God, my Father, while I stray." Her verse is characterized by tenderness of feeling, plaintive simplicity, deep devotion, and perfect rhythm. For those in sickness and sorrow she has sung as few others have done. Her hymns appeared in her brother's Psalms & Hymns and elsewhere as follows:—
(1) Psalms and Hymns for Public, Private, and Social Worship; selected by the Rev. H. V. Elliott, &c., 1835-48. In this Selection her signature is "C. E." (2) The Christian Remembrancer Pocket Book. This was originally edited by Miss Kiernan, of Dublin. Miss Elliott undertook the editorship in 1834. (3) The Invalid's Hymn Book. This was originally compiled by Miss Kiernan, but before publication was re-arranged by Miss Elliott, who also added 23 hymns in the first edition., 1834. These were increased in the following edition to the sixth in 1854, when her contributions amounted to 112. From that date no change was made in the work. (4) Hours of Sorrow Cheered and Comforted; or, Thoughts in Verse, 1836. (5) Morning and Evening Hymns for a Week, printed privately in 1839 for sale for a benevolent institution in Brighton, and published in 1842. (6) Thoughts in Verse on Sacred Subjects, 1869.
Miss Elliott's Poems were published, with a Memoir by her sister, Mrs. Babington, in 1873, and an additional volume of Leaves from her unpublished Journals and Poems, also appeared in 1870.
In addition to her more important hymns, which are annotated under their respective first lines, there are in common use:—
i. From The Invalid's Hymn-book, 1834-1841:—
1. Clouds and darkness round about thee. (1841.) Resignation.
2. Not willingly dost Thou afflict [reject]. (1841.) Divine Chastisement.
3. O God, may I look up to Thee. (1841.) Teach us to Pray.
4. This is enough; although 'twere sweet. (1834.) On being debarred from Divine Worship.
5. With tearful eyes I look around. (1841.) The Invitation "Come Unto Me."
ii. From H. V. Elliott's Psalms & Hymns, 1835-1839:—
6. Glorious was that primal light. Christmas.
7. Hail, holy day, most blest, most dear. Easter.
8. My only Saviour, when I feel. Jesus His people's Rest.
9. Now let our heavenly plants and flowers. Monday Morning.
10. The Sabbath-day has reached its close. Sunday Evening.
iii. From Miss Elliott's Hours of Sorrow, 1836:—
11. Father, when Thy child is dying. Prayer for a Departing Spirit.
12. Leaning on Thee, my Guide, my Friend. Death Anticipated.
13. My God, is any hour so sweet? The Hour of Prayer.
14. O faint and feeble-hearted. Resignation enforced.
15. There is a holy sacrifice. The Contrite Heart.
iv. From her Hymns for a Week, 1839:—
16. Guard well thy lips; none, none can know. Thursday Morning.
17. There is a spot of consecrated ground. Pt. i.
18. This is the mount where Christ's disciples see. Pt. ii. Monday Evening.
19. This is the day to tune with care. Saturday Morning.
v. From Thoughts in Verse on Sacred Subjects, 1869:—
20. As the new moons of old were given. On a Birthday.
21. I need no other plea. Pt. i.
22. I need no prayers to saints. Pt. ii. Christ, All in All.
23. Jesus, my Saviour, look on me. Christ, All in All.
Several of the earlier of these hymns were repeated in the later works, and are thus sometimes attributed to the wrong work. [Rev. James Davidson, B.A.]
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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Elliott, Charlotte, p. 328, i. Other hymns are:—
1. O how I long to reach my home. Heaven desired. From the Invalid's Hymn Book, 1834.
2. The dawn approaches, golden streaks. Second Advent. From Thoughts in Verse, &c, 1869.
Of her hymns noted on p. 328, Nos. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,11, and 13, all appeared in the 1st edition of Elliott's Psalms & Hymns, 1835.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)
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Elliott, Charlotte, pp. 328, i.; 1561, ii. Further research enables us to give amended dates to some of her hymns as follows:—
1. With tearful eyes I look around (No. 5). This is in the 1835 Appendix to The Invalid's Hymn Book.
2. My only Saviour, when I feel (No. 8). Also in the 1835 Appendix.
3. Father, when Thy child is dying (No. 11). In the 1833 Appendix.
4. I want that adorning divine, p. 559, i. In the Christian Remembrancer 1848, p. 22.
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)
Charlotte Elliott
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